I’m not here to judge the merits of Kaiser as an HMO, nor my personal experience being in this health care system for over thirty years. But I am curious about the concept of a more proactive and preventative approach promoting health, wellness, and wholeness, versus a more reactive approach of curing diseases and dealing with problems. The way I have typically managed my psoriasis over these past thirty plus years is more the latter. When my skin is red, flaky, peeling, and cracking, my first thought is that I need to find some therapy or medication to address the outbreak of the disease. I want to do something. I might try a combination of conventional therapies such as pills and needles, or some non-conventional ones such as dietary supplements or special baths. I wait day after day to see if anything works, with each new dawn bringing a greater level of anxiety if it does not.

I can understand why I tend to take the more reactive track, as psoriasis patients are at a higher risk for what feels like just about everything. The National Psoriasis Foundation issued a “Psoriasis and Mental Health Issue Brief” where they cite study after study documenting how those with psoriasis have higher rates of depression, anxiety, stress-related disorders, and behavior disorders, and are twice as likely to have thoughts of suicide. Besides these mental health concerns, the lives of patients with severe psoriasis are cut short by four years on average, and they have increased risk for cardiovascular disease, diabetes, stroke, cancer, and so on.

No wonder in the back of my mind I ask, “Can I thrive with a case of severe psoriasis?” I feel like I need to just survive!

I can think back to countless times when I didn’t thrive or think that I could; when the bleakness of a future chained to the ball of psoriasis weighed me down to the point when I wanted to give up. I’ve been there in the depression, under immense stress, obsessively worrying if I would die before my time. To prosper or flourish in the face of a chronic, inflammatory, unrelenting autoimmune disease does not seem possible even during the better days; forget about the low moments.

But from time to time, something inspires me, drawing me back to courage, hope, and optimism. This week’s inspiration came from watching the The King’s Speech. In the movie we learn of how the future King George VI struggles with stammering. He eventually becomes king just as Europe is thrust into World War II. The events of his time challenge his resolve to overcome his speech impediment, in order to encourage his empire facing Hitler’s war machine. But the King can barely get a sentence out, painfully stammering at what feels like every word. Through his own perseverance, the help of an unorthodox speech therapist, and the support of his family, he overcomes his impediment enough to bring courage to his nation.

After the movie I choked back tears as I thought about the struggle and pain the King endured. I cheered for him just as his subjects cheered for him after he made his first wartime speech. I could relate to how he faced a chronic condition and fought not only for his own life, but also for his family and those who depended on him. It’s my challenge, too — to continually commit to health in my body, and just as importantly, in my mind and spirit. This way if one part, such as my body, is not well, my optimistic mind and encouraged spirit can sustain me.

Do you feel it’s possible for you to thrive and flourish with psoriasis? I’d love to hear your thoughts, including what inspires you.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Howard Chang

Howard Chang has lived with severe psoriasis for more than 35 years since childhood. He is a volunteer for the National Psoriasis Foundation. Howard works as a Christian spiritual advisor and is a married...read more